Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Informational: Federal Court Arraignments
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt:
Appearing in Great Falls before Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris and pleading not guilty on July 6 was:
Larry Thomas McDaniel, 45, of Great Falls, on charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious crime, McDaniel faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $10 million fine and five years of supervised release. McDaniel was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Great Falls Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-61.
Kareshmaa Kaur Jagroop, 41, of Calgary, Alberta, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Jagroop faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Jagroop was detained pending further proceedings. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 22-109.
Jada Mulon Wells, 20, of Browning, on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault on a federal officer and robbery. If convicted of the most serious crime, Wells faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Wells was detained pending further proceedings.The FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Cut Bank Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-34.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on July 6 was:
Heather Marie Bugni, 34, of Butte, on charges of false statement to an agency of the United States, health care fraud and theft of government money. If convicted of the most serious crime, Bugni faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Bugni was released pending further proceedings. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-09.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on July 6 was:
Yvon Lopez-Florez, 29, of Lodge Grass, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Lopez-Florez faces a mandatory minimum five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Lopez-Florez was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-70.
Appearing on July 5 was:
Ryan William Newhart, 28, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Newhart faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Newhart was detained pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, U.S. Postal Service and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-80.
Devin Miranda American Horse, 34, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, American Horse faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. American Horse was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-73.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.